Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has criticised his party’s alliance with the Liberals, describing it as a marriage of convenience which diminishes the electoral prospects of both groups.
He has called for the Nationals to be granted a fifth cabinet position to balance the Liberal and Nationals numbers in government.
Speaking to Sky News host Chris Kenny, Mr Joyce accused Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack of failing to effectively lobby Scott Morrison on behalf of his party.
He accused Mr McCormack of making too many concessions to the Liberals because he wasn't prepared to deal with "the aggro in Cabinet”.
However, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg defended the deputy prime minister saying he had done an “outstanding” job in his role.
28th Jan 2021 7:01 PM Australia s airports are begging the government to save them from the catastrophic impact of COVID-19, as the pandemic inflicts $320 million monthly blows to their finances. Australian Airports Association chief executive James Goodwin will front a senate committee into the aviation industry on Friday, calling for government support to be extended for at least six months. Mr Goodwin accused the government of yanking away a safety net for airports while relying on them to shoulder the burden of operating as an essential service throughout the pandemic. He said the sector was still reeling from the catastrophic impact of the pandemic.
ABC Religion & Ethics
Katharine Gelber
Updated
Fri 12 Feb 2021, 5:54pm
Social media companies like Facebook and Twitter have profited enormously from facilitating speech while simultaneously avoiding the responsibilities of responding to harmful speech. (Jaap Arriens / NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Soon after the anti-democratic mob violence which occurred recently at the US Capitol, I wrote an opinion piece for these pages arguing that much of the debate in the Australian media covering the decision by Twitter to suspend Donald Trump’s account permanently was seriously missing the point. Media coverage, including that of the ABC, had covered the views of some Coalition MPs including Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, and backbenchers Dave Sharma, George Christensen, and Craig Kelly. They had expressed concern over what they described as “censorship”, said that everyone should be entitled to express their views even if they d
Nationals leader touts $100 billion Coalition infrastructure rollout27/01/2021|15min
Nationals Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has touted an infrastructure project in Canberra which will deliver better pedestrian access for the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge.
It comes as the Liberal-Nationals Coalition begins to deliver on its $110 billion infrastructure rollout which seeks to stimulate the economy in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking at a press conference with ACT Senator Zed Seselja, the Nationals Leader said the $137 million upgrade would be one of many projects in Canberra over the next few years.
“You can’t deny that is going to provide a big boost for Canberra”.
National Party MPs “no longer stand up against” the Liberal Party nor do they stand up for regional Australians, all they are after is the extra salary and bigger offices, according to Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon.
It comes after Barnaby Joyce came out today criticising the Coalition agreement as a “marriage of convenience” particularly drawing ire to the lack of cabinet posts given to the Nationals.
The former deputy prime minister said the fragility of the relationship between the two parties could threaten the re-election of the Coalition.
Mr Fitzgibbon told Sky News the Nationals allow themselves to “be bullied” by the senior Coalition partner, especially by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Another point raised by Barnaby Joyce was the seating arrangement during Question Time where Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack no longer sits next to the prime minister.
The Labor MP for Hunter said he has observed how the Nationals “no longer stand up against the Libs and sta